What we’re about
Grow spiritually and make friends! We will read from the works of Swami Vivekananda or other Vedanta literature, take turns sharing our thoughts about the reading, and maybe talk about our personal lives a little bit. Persons of all faiths, and no faith, are welcome.
<br>
No prior knowledge or homework is required. Please just bring an attitude of seeking to understand more than to be understood.
<br>
Vedanta is a philosophy based on ancient Indian scriptures called the Upanishads. Vedanta teaches that the oneness of all existence is the highest spiritual truth. The goal of life is to realize that oneness. By realizing that oneness, we can achieve lasting peace and serenity.
<br>
Most of us don't experience oneness because our ego (our sense of "I" and "mine") gives us a distorted perspective. Our ego makes us feel separate from the rest of existence. This distorted perspective is called "maya." Maya is pretty trippy, as you may have noticed from your experience in the world. It's ok to enjoy the trip for a while. But it's ultimately a distortion of reality, so at some point we might want to move on to a less distorted perspective on life.
<br>
Whenever we feel ready to move on, there are various yogas, or spiritual methods, that we can use to transcend maya. For example, we can follow the path of unselfish action (karma yoga). Or we can follow the path of meditation (raja yoga). Another option is the yoga of knowledge, or philosophical inquiry (jnana yoga). There's also the path of love and devotion: take up a belief in a personal God and worship him or her to develop your capacity for love (bhakti yoga). Or combine several different yogas. All of these paths can help us to reduce our egotism and self-centeredness, which increases our sense of oneness with all existence. Which makes life better and more fulfilling!
<br>
The Vedanta philosophy is usually associated with the Hindu religion, but it is not limited to Hinduism. You can apply the principles of Vedanta to any religion or spiritual path. There is room in Vedanta both for people who believe in a personal God, and for those who do not. In fact, it does not require subscription to any specific beliefs other than wanting to grow spiritually. Vedanta is not about belief; it is about being and becoming.
